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Arrieta strikes out eight in first Triple-A start

4/16/13: Jake Arrieta earns his first win of season, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out seven over five strong frames

By Rick Eymer
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Special to MLB.com |

OAKLAND -- Orioles manager Buck Showalter had to be happy about Jake Arrieta's effort Friday night, even if it was 3,000 miles away.

Arrieta, who started the season in the Orioles' rotation, was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Monday to put things back together. On Friday, he threw six scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out eight as the Tides beat the Charlotte Knights, 11-4.

"It's a double-edged sword. I want him to go down and work on things," Showalter said before Friday's game in Oakland.

Perhaps Arrieta's most impressive stat was the zero walks he issued. He threw 94 pitches, 54 for strikes.

"He knows he just can't throw his glove out there," Showalter said. "I'd like to see him carry the stuff he had up here."

Rick Eymer is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.